A huge thank you for all the advice before leaving for our holiday -It had been 9 years since our last visit - my 9th visit - our daughter had just turned 9 and we were travelling in the 9th month - to leave Bali on the 9th (early hours) - was this a sign of something to come?
My brother and sister in law usually travel a lot to Bali as they live in Perth - this holiday was to celebrate his 50th birthday. Some of our dates didn't coincide but we were able to spend a few days together. We started our holiday flying with Garuda and having transport organized through our TA to Ubud - we had booked 4 nights at Waka Namya in Penestanan. Usually just driving through the Ubud area we thought to stay and were so happy that we did - we loved it. The hotel was small and personal - we loved the staff and met some great characters in our travels. Our accommodation was just what we needed the rice barn style with 2 king beds (upstairs and downstairs) out side bathroom, our own compound area was lovely and relaxing, especially with the main pool just outside our gate made the start to our holiday heaven.
We walked into the main area of Ubud but our hotel also provided a shuttle service when needed. Our first dinner was at Murni's Warung and after reading about this restaurant was not disappointed - the various levels and different styles throughout the building was fantastic - would recommend highly - their lumpia was the best we had all the time we were away!
I was on a mission after reading Eat Pray Love to find Wayan Nuriyasih and her Natural Therapies shop - I must admit I was curious and with my asthma and arthritic problems worsening and would have loved to have had time with her. I was told she was near the Ubud post office even finding that was a small adventure always being told 100 metres up the road, then another 100 metres, then another - my husband doesn't have a lot of patience and we did find the shop later in our travels. Wayan was not there and a patient was waiting to see her with no idea how long we would have to wait, decided it was something I would do our next holiday and be prepared to wait.
Having been the monkey forest before I am not brave with the monkeys, we had thought our daughter would like it - but no just like her mum - we entered and watched from a far at their antics. We met a lovely girl called Anna and her son Marchello at Waka Namya and on one night went to the Lotus Pond to see what we were told the children's gamelan dance group - not children when we got there but at least beautiful dancing - we had pre show drinks and afterwards again at Ary's Warung across the road. Funky toilets near the kitchen long winding fish pond that meanders along the wall of the toilets - good mojitos but I prefer margheritas.
We tended to 'graze' (or snack) while walking - trying different restaurants in those few days. Recommend highly Casa Luna, Lotus, Café des Artistes, Naughty Nuri's (fabulous ribs), Minami Japanese Restaurant. Look out for Victor Mason at Nuri's (English ex pat) author and quite a character.
Waka Namya provide free rice paddy walks with a staff member - Ketut took us early one morning around 7.30am explaining about plants, their infrastructure as we went along - it was longer than we thought and enjoyed every minute of it. We visited the Blanco Renaissance Museum - please go there if you have time - well worth it - could not believe the grandeur. On arriving we met Antonio Blanco's wife - Ni Rondji (a famous dancer in her time) - she was gracious and very welcoming. Antonio Blanco was known as the 'Dali of Bali', their son Mario is also an artist - just an amazing time.
Hope this hasn't been boring - I will post more ......